Single track system and toy accessories therefor



Sept. 10, 1968 j w, RYAN ET AL 3,400,487

SINGLE TRACK SYSTEM AND TOY ACCESSORIES THEREFOR Filed NOV. 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 50 8 O we Sept. 10, 1968 J. w. RYAN ET AL 3,400,487

SINGLE TRACK SYSTEM AND TOY ACCESSORIES THEREFOR Filed Nov. 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet Fair/ r a/M l msz Sept. 10, 1968 J. w. RYAN ET AL SINGLE TRACK SYSTEM AND TOY ACCESSORIES THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 26, 1965 United States Patent 3,400,487 SINGLE TRACK SYSTEM AND TOY ACCESSORIES THEREFOR John W. Ryan, Bel Air, and Robert Edgar Hulse, Huntington Beach, Calif., assignors to Mattel, I-nc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,992 Claims. (Cl. 46-217) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy train having an engine and a car releasably coupled to it and guided by a flexible track having a crossover intersection. Movable uncoupling means near the cross-over can be actuated to engage a pivoted coupling member on the engine and uncouple the car as the train reaches the cross-over along one path, which car is left close to the cross-over. The coupling member on the engine has a laterally extending arm arranged to engage a coupling pin on the car, when the engine again crosses the cross-over along a second path at right angles to the one path, to recouple the car and tow it along the second path.

The disclosure of copending application Ser. No. 465,558 filed June 21, 1965 now Patent No. 3,377,74l, is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to coupling systems and undercarriages for toy track-following vehicles and toy accessories therefor, and is particularly useful in combination with a track system of the type disclosed in said copending application, although it may be used with other track systems.

Accessories for coupling and uncoupling the individual cars in a toy train set designed to travel on a pair of parallel tracks are well known. While generally satisfactory, such accessories do have certain disadvantages.

One disadvantage with certain of these prior art coupling-uncoupling systems resides in the fact that they can not be operated from a remote location.

Another disadvantage resides in the fact that individual cars can only be coupled together when they are traveling upon the same track.

Although certain other prior art coupling-uncoupling systems may be operated from a remote location, they are comparatively expensive and complicated.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of prior art toy accessories for coupling and uncoupling individual cars in a toy train set, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful track system and toy accessories therefor not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having a new and useful coupling-uncoupling device especially designed for actuation from a remote location to uncouple cars on one track and couple them together again when one of the cars is traveling on another track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful fluid-actuated uncoupling device for toy train systems.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful uncoupling device especially designed for use in combination with toy trains operating on a single, pliable track system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful undercarriage for toy tracking-type vehicles.

According to the present invention, a single track system is provided for guiding a toy train along a plurality of paths. The track system includes a pliable, hollow member adapted to be placed upon a supporting surface 3,400,487 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 "ice and contoured by hand to form a predetermined course for the toy train to follow.

Fluid-actuated accessory means are provided for operation from a remote location to couple and uncouple individual cars from the toy train during its travel along the predetermined course. The accessory means includes a new and useful coupling device for connecting a car traveling along one of said paths to a car which has come to rest along another of said paths.

The single track system and toy accessories therefor of the present invention comprises essentially the combination of a hollow flexible track means, a toy train having individual cars adapted to follow the track means, pneumatic means for varying fluid pressure within the track means operatively connected to the track means, and accessory means responsive to changes in fluid pressure operatively connected to the track means for operation from a remote location to automatically uncouple individual cars from each other and then couple them together again even though one of the cars may be traveling a different path defined by said track means than the path traveled by the train at the time the cars were uncoupled.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a single track systern and toy accessories therefor constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 1A is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 1A1A of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, elevational view of a toy train and uncoupling device comprising components of the system and accessories shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the train and uncoupling device shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURES 4-8, inclusive, are plan views of the system and accessories shown in FIGURE 1 at different stages during a coupling operation and an uncoupling operation.

Referring again to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1-3, a single track system and toy accessories therefor constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a track system 12 which guides a toy train 14 on a predetermined course. The track system 12 includes a pliable tubular member 16 adapted to be placed on a suitable supporting surface 17 and contoured by hand to form the predetermined course. A plurality of paths may be provided in the predetermined course by connecting separate lengths or sections 18 and 20' of the pliable member 16 together by suitable connecting means 22.

The connecting means 22 includes a plate or base member 24 having substantially fiat bottom and upper surfaces 26 and 28, respectively. The member 24 is provided with a cross connection 30 having arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 to which the ends 40 of section 18, 41 and 42 of the section 20, and 44 of section 18, respectively, are connected. The member 24 is also provided with a plurality of upstanding rib members 46 which are adapted to cage the front wheels 48 on a towed vehicle or car 50 (forming a part of the train 14) to hold the car 50 at rest on the member 24 after the car 50 has been uncoupled from a towing vehicle or engine 52 (also forming a part of the train 14).

The member 24 is also provided with a fluid-actuated, toy accessory means 54 including a swingable abutment means 56 pivotally connected to the member 24 by a rod 58 for rotation from the solid line position to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 2. The rod 58 carries a hook 60 at one end which is connected by a link 62 to a fluid-actuated bellows 64. The bellows 64, when actuated, rotates the rod 58 between the solid line and broken line positions shown in FIGURES 1A and 2.

The bellows 64 is attached to the member 24 by a clamp 66 which encOmpasses a conduit 68 connecting the bellows 64 to a hand pump 70. The clamp 66 may be firmly secured to the base 24 by any suitable means, such as a pair of screws 72 shown for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation.

The pump includes a hollow cylindrical member or cylinder 74 having an encompassing side wall 76, a closed end wall 78 and an open top 80. The cylinder 74 is reciprocably mounted on a piston 82 which places the conduit 68 in fluid communication with the cylinder 74 so that air may be supplied from the pump 70 to the bellows 64 and withdrawn therefrom by reciprocation of the cylinder 74. When air is supplied to the bellows 64, it is expanded from the solid line position to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 1A and when air is withdrawn therefrom it is collapsed and returns to the position in solid line position. This, of course, imparts rotation to the rod 58 swinging the abutment 56 from the broken line position to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 2 and back to the broken line position.

The engine 52 simulates a steam engine having a boiler 84, a smokestack 86, a headlight 88, a cow catcher and a cab 92. The engine 52 is guided on the predetermined course defined by the track system 12 by a single castered wheel 94 which is pivotally connected to the boiler 84 and which includes an annular groove 96 forming a track-follower portion engaging the tubular member 16 for following the course defined thereby. The engine 52 also includes a pair of rear wheels 98 which are affixed to an axle 100. The axle 100 is rotatably mounted on the underside of the boiler 84 subjacent the cab 92 for rotation by a suitable power supply means, such as an electric motor 102 having an output shaft 104 which en gages the outer periphery 105 of one of the wheels 98 through the medium of a resilient drive wheel 106. The motor 102 may be connected to a suitable source of electrical power, not shown, by electrical leads 108 and, when so connected, powers the engine 52 by imparting rotation to the wheel 106 which, in turn, rotates the wheels 98 to propel the engine 52 about the course defined -by the track system 12.

Rotation of the rear wheels 98 also imparts rotation to a pair of front wheels 109 through the medium of associated push rods 109a which are pivotally connected to an associated wheel 98 by a crank pin 98a and to an associated wheel 109 by a crank pin 10% which works in a slot 109c provided in the push rod 109a.

The engine 52 is adapted to pull the car 50 about the track system 12 and may be connected thereto by a coupling means 110 which includes a mounting block 112 rigidly aflixed to the underside of the cab 92. The cou pling means 110 also includes a U-shaped, swinga-ble member 114 having parallel arms 116 and a bight portion 118. The arms 116 straddle the block 112 and are pivotally connected thereto by a pin 120. The coupling means 110 also includes a trip lever 122 which depends from one of the arms 116 to a position adjacent the tubular member 16. The lever 122 includes a free end which carries a laterally extending member 126 adapted to engage the abutment 56 when it is in its broken-line, FIGURE 2 position. Such engagement causes the swingable member 114 to be swung upwardly in the direction of arrow 128 for the purpose of uncoupling the car 50 from the engine 52. This is accomplished by releasing an upstanding pin 130 from its caged position between the bight portion 118 and the block 112 after which the swingable member 114 returns to its FIGURE 2 position by gravity.

The coupling means 110 also includes an arcuate arm 132 having a first end 134 afi'ixed to the underside of bight portion 118 and a free end 136 extending outwardly laterally from the cab 92 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The car 50 includes a body portion 138 which is carried by an undercarriage 140. The undercarriage 140 includes a front bolster 142 having a cross member 144 which carries the wheels 48, a forwardly extending tongue 146 and a rearwardly extending tongue 148. The forwardly extending tongue 146 carries the upstanding pin 130 and the rearwardly extending tongue 148 carries a depending pin 150 which engages a slot 152 provided on the forwardly extending tongue portion 154 of the bolster 140 which also includes a cross member 156 upon which rear wheels 158 are rotatably mounted and a rearwardly extending tongue 160 which is provided with an aperture 162 for the reception of an upstanding pin, not shown, for the purpose of connecting another car like the car 50 to the train 14.

Although the present invention has been shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as including a toy train of the railroad type having an engine and a car, it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention apply equally well to trains of the non-railroad type wherein a towed vehicle is connected to a towing vehicle.

Operation of the single track system and toy accessories 10 will be readily understood.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the train 14 may be placed upon the section 20 of the track system 12 for travel in the direction of arrow 164 toward the base member 24 upon energization of the motor 102. As the train 14 approaches the base member 24, the pump 70 may be actuated to evacuate air from the bellows 64 causing it to be returned to its FIGURE 1A position so that the link 62 will rotate the rod 58 causing the abutment means 56 to swing to its upright position adjacent the section 20 of the tubular member 16 in the path of travel of the laterally extending member 126 provided on the coupling means 110.

As the engine 52 travels over the base member 24, the abutment means 56 will engage the member 126 causing the swingable member 114 to swing upwardly in the direction of arrow 128 (FIGURE 2) releasing the pin 130 from its caged position within the bight portion 118 just as the front wheels 48 of the car 50 arrive at the position shown in FIGURE 5 where they are caged between the ribs 46. This retains the car 50 in position on the base member 24 as the engine 52 moves on to the section 18 of tubular member 16 traveling in the direction of arrow 166. The engine 52 follows the path defined by the section 18 moving in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URES 5 and 6, until the engine 52 again approaches the base member 24, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 6. The pump 70 may then be actuated forcing air through the conduit 68 to the bellows 64 causing it to expand to its FIGURE 1A broken line position which, in turn, rotates the abutment 56 to its FIGURE 2 solid line position where it is recessed Within the base member 24 subjacent the tubular member 16 permitting the engine 52 to move to its FIGURE 6 solid-line position without interference from the abutment means 56. In this position of engine 52, it is to be noted that the engine 52 has entered section 20 of tubular member 16 at right angles to the car 50.

In this position of the car 52, the coupling means 110 extends over the end 44 of section 18 in such a manner that the arcuate arm 132 extends into engagement with the pin 130 on the car 50 for automatically coupling the car 50 to the engine 52 during continued travel of the engine 52 in the direction of arrow 168.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, as the engine 52 continues traveling in the direction of arrow 168, the pin 130 slides along the arcuate arm 132 toward the bight portion 118 swinging tongue 146 to turn the car 50 so that the car 50 can follow the engine 52 in a direction which lies at right angles to the direction in which the car 50 was traveling when it was brought to rest between the ribs 46. The engine 52 then pulls the car 50 along with it, as shown in FIGURE 8, traveling in the direction of arrow 170 from the FIGURE 8 solid line position to the FIGURE 8 broken line position where the pump means 70 may again be actuated to evacuate the bellows 64 causing the link 62. to be retracted to its FIG- URE 1A solid line position. This positions the abutment means 56 in a substantially upright position where the abutment means 56 may again be engaged by the coupling means 110 for uncoupling the car 50 from the engine 52.

While the particular single track system and toy accessories therefor herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy, comprising:

a toy train including an engine and a car connected to said engine by a coupling means provided on said engine;

a track system defining a predetermined course for said train to follow;

fluid-responsive accessory means mounted adjacent said track means in the path of travel of said train for engagement with said coupling means for automatically uncoupling said car responsive to changes in fluid pressure;

pneumatic means connected to said accessory means for varying the pressure of the fluid supplied thereto; and

said uncoupling means including an arcuate arm extending laterally from said engine to a position where it is engageable with said car for connecting said car to said engine as it travels along said track means in a direction lying at right angles to the direction said car would travel along said path while uncoupled from said engine.

2. A toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic means includes pump means connected to said accessory means through a conduit for operating said accessory means from a remote location.

3. In combination with a toy train including an engine and a car connectable to said engine for travel upon a track system including track portions lying at right angles to each other, automatic coupling means comprising:

an upstanding pin provided on said car for connecting said car to said engine;

a swingable member pivotally connected to said engine for swinging movements vertically upwardly, said swingable member including a bight portion for caging said pin when said swingable member is swung downwardly over said pin;

means connected to said swingable member for swinging it upwardly upon engagement with abutment means mounted adjacent said track in the path of travel of said train; and

an arm extending laterally outwardly from said swingable member, said arm being engageable with said pin for automatically moving said pin into said bight portion when said car is positioned on one of said sections and when said engine is traveling along the other of said sections at right angles to said one section.

4. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said abutment means is swingable to an elevated position for engagement with said swingable member and to a substantially horizontal position where said abutment member is not engageable with said swingable member and wherein said coupling means includes pneumatic means connected to said abutment means for swinging it to said elevated position from a remote location.

5. A single track system and toy accessory combination comprising:

a track system for guiding a train on a predetermined course having a plurality of paths, said track system including a pliable member adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and contoured by hand to define said predetermined course including at least one path lying at right angles to another path;

a my train including an engine and a car, said engine including caster-wheel means engageable with said pliable member for guiding said train on said predetermined course and power means for supplying power to said engine for driving it on said course;

coupling means connecting said engine to said car, said coupling means including an upstanding pin provided on said car and a swingable member pivotally mounted on said engine for vertical swinging movements from an elevated position where said swingable member is not engageable with said pin to a lowered, substantially horizontal position where said swingable member is in engagement with said pin for connecting said car to said engine, said swingable member including a depending lever having a lateral extension provided on one side thereof; and

an arcuate arm connected to said swingable member, said arm having an end extending outwardly from said engine for engagement with said pin when said engine is caused to travel on said one path while said car is in position on said other path with said pin adjacent said one path for engagement by said arm to automatically connect said car to said train and turn said car away from said one path and onto said other path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,363 12/1913 Miller 246415 X 2,305,134 12/1942 C-ase. 3,128,977 4/1964 Lohr 46-216 X FOREIGN PATENTS 499,554 1/ 1939 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

C. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

